How could Canada have helped? The Holocaust How could Canada have helped?

If you were arrested by the Gestapo… You had less than 3 minutes to pack clothing and say goodbye to loved ones. You were sent to the nearest police cell and forced to sign Form D-11 which stated that you agreed to go to prison If you didn’t, you were beaten until you did or the officers would forge your signature You were then sent to a concentration camp (not the same as death camps later developed) How long you stayed depended on the authorities (Did you learn your lesson yet? Will you behave yourself outside of prison?) The concentration camps were barbaric: Flogging of inmates were common – 25 lashes In the Buchenwald camp, 480 men shared 1 water tap at 15 minutes each. Abuse of this = 25 lashes Soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes etc. were not allowed Food and drink were minimal and Jews had half the rations of other prisoners.

So who would get arrested? Anyone seen as a political threat Democrats, communists, opposing party members Anyone caught or suspected of making jokes about the Nazi party (if it was about Hitler, you were executed) Those who rejected Nazi ideas or refused military service Homosexuals accusing someone of this was a common tactic used by Nazis to discredit someone People of Roma (Gypsy) decent Physically or mentally disabled people Jewish people

Identification in the Camps Yellow Star (of David) – Jewish Red Triangle - political prisoners Green Triangle – habitual criminals – “The Kapos” Purple Triangle – Religious dissidents including Jehovah’s Witness, Bible Students etc. Black Triangle – deemed “asocial” including the mentally ill, mentally disabled, alcoholic, the homeless, intellectuals, prostitutes, pacifists, “work shy” Pink Triangle – Gay victims Brown Triangle – Roma Peoples (Gypsies) Blue Triangle – Immigrant Forced Labourers

There were also combined identifying badges in the camps seen in this picture Bars were added if you were a repeat offender Black circles were added for prisoner battalions Yellow triangles were added to denote “Jewish and…” Black triangles were added to yellow stars to denote “race defilers” Letters were added to show which country someone came from (using the German first letter of the county’s name)

The Nuremburg Race Laws You will receive a card from your teacher. Read your card and assemble yourself as part of a human timeline to circle around your classroom. Start with the years 1933 (near the door) and end with 1945 Some students will receive additional cards to read from your teacher Read all cards aloud and discuss